Oversight Committee to Vote on Lois Lerner’s Potential Waiver of Fifth Amendment Right

June 25, 2013

WASHINGTON – The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will meet Friday, June 28th at 9:00 a.m. to consider a resolution regarding Lois Lerner’s potential waiver of her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself at the Committee’s May 22, 2013 hearing entitled “The IRS: Targeting Americans for Their Political Beliefs.” The hearing was recessed, rather than adjourned, by Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) so that it may recommence at a later date. If the Committee finds that Lerner waived her rights, she could be brought back before the Committee to answer questions. Lerner was the Director of Exempt Organizations at the IRS during the time that political groups applying for tax exempt status were being targeted for extra scrutiny. As such, she is in a unique position to answer key questions about the targeting. On May 22, after being subpoenaed to testify, Lerner appeared before the Committee and gave a voluntary opening statement denying any wrongdoing and stating that she intended to invoke her Fifth Amendment right. Several Committee members raised objections, contending the witness had effectively waived her Fifth Amendment right by reading a self-selected and entirely voluntary opening statement that was entered into the record. After conferring with counsel, Issa allowed Lerner to leave and later recessed the hearing so the issue may be resolved. Meeting Details:Friday, June 28thFull Committee Business Meeting9:00 a.m. in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building and streaming online at http://oversight.house.gov